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Satyricon: Now, Diabolical Black Metal Century Media Records April 24th, 2006
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Review
After two acts of atrocity from Satyricon comes Now, Diabolical, the third entry into the experimental Black Metal stages of the band's current career, except now it really isn't all that experimental. Now, Diabolical is a better produced album that takes the few positives from the previous album, Volcano, and really focuses on driving the point home here and creating a rather heavy release. And, yes, this one has it's flaws as well, but luckily nowhere near as bad as on the previous release. First of all, the change in labels really helped out as far as the production goes, having a higher quality, leading to what sounds like an overall better performance from the band, especially in the vocals since they seem to be a little more ethusiastic towards this project. You'll notice all of this right away on the first and title track to the album. This one does have it's dull moments, but there's far more songs on here that are actually worth listening to. Both "Now, Diabolical" and "K.I.N.G." are excellent, catchy tracks that really show some progress for the band with the evolution of their newer sound, but "A New Enemy" is where it all really shines, bringing in an ambient atmosphere that have a tinge of some traditional Heavy Metal, utilizing low spoken word vocals to create an eerie, almost haunting atmosphere that they have tried before and many a time failed miserably at. But, even the new production cannot save the album from the fact that it still sounds a bit hollow as far as the guitars go. You'll notice it throughout the album as there are just moments that leaves you wishing there was a rhythm guitarist, not only to make the music a little richer, but because the riffs seem to have been designed for another guitarist to be in to enhance with a different riff then the main one. Sadly this happens all over the board with these songs, so pinpointing a spot as an example is pointless. While it doesn't do much to drag the album down, it really just does become a bit of an annoyance at first, but eventually you will get adjusted to it. But, there are some tracks on here that you simply won't get too adjusted to, such as "Delirium", and especially "The Pentagram Burns", which clearly just comes off as a filler track, and "The Rite Of Our Cross" which really isn't too bad a song, but becomes a bit drawn out not once, but twice whne you hit about three fourth's of the way when the keyboards kick in and the medieval element is presented, leading you to scream for Satyricon to just end it as if you were screaming at some stupid blonde in a horror film who who doesn't know not to open the door the killer is behind, but yet you do and think it'll help. AND THEN...you become quiet as the album ends in as unclimactic a way as most slasher films do these days too, thanks to "To The Mountains" being a slower paced, and often drawn out song. CENTURY MEDIA EDITION: This release has also been released in other countries through Roadrunner Records. However, the release through Century Media Records features a bonus track called "Storm (Of The Destroyer)". If you happen on this one, it would be wise to grab it since it's the quickest track the band has put out in years, even if the drumming, at times, gives off a techno or industrial feel with how they are being performed, making this a much better closer track to the album then "To The Mountains" wound up being. A huge change from Satyricon's last album, Now, Diabolical is actually a rather impressive step forward for the band. With a good majority of the album sounding very well done, meshing Black Metal with Rock and Heavy Metal well for the most part, and some ambient moments that sound good but get rather old after repeat listens, it gives promise for the band with future recordings. If you haven't heard this one yet, you should, as it really does bring some good ideas to the table, and a few catchy songs that'll stay lodged in your brain for a good while.
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